End of the Year Reflections

(I owned a 1974 Spirit of America Chevrolet Nova as my first car. My late friend, Rita Gray Allen, and I spent a lot of evenings driving around talking and listening to music played from eight track tapes. We were young, strong, and had the whole world ahead of us to explore. Those really were the best days of our lives. This one is for you, Rita, you'll never be forgotten!)

End of the Year Reflections

Another year is coming to an end,

Tonight I lost another good friend,

Started thinking about the days gone by,

Remembered her laugh and started to cry.

Life was simple without a job or a man,

Our biggest worry was getting a good tan,

Loved wearing high heels and nylon hose,

Looked silly with skin peeling from a burnt nose.

Cruising down Main Street in an old used car,

Soaring high though we didn't drive far,

Not in a million years would I have guessed,

All the treasures and riches we possessed.

Youth has fled and I'm growing old,

The winter winds are blowing cold,

Forever woven in my memories,

Are brighter, happier days than these.

Another year is coming to an end,

Another birthday is coming around again,

I'll search for friendship, flowers, and trees,

Build the rest of my life around all of these!

Dianna Doles Petry

December 30, 2010